It was Will Rogers who said that “[e]verything is changing. People are taking their comedians seriously and the politicians as a joke.” I propose he was repeating what he had read in a fortune cookie in the 1930’s predicting our current state of affairs.
We’ve an incredibly hilarious ticket to vote on in Florida’s governor’s race this year. We have a former CEO of the nation’s largest health care provider, Rick Scott, who, after he led his company through a settlement of $1.7 billion dollars as against a Medicare Fraud complaint, seeks our vote to let him ‘go to work’ for the State of Florida. Who is he going to defraud this go-around? Better, his opponent, a woman with a man’s name, (only in Florida), Alex Sink, is vying for Governor. She claims unassailable, though enthusiastically assailed, credentials as a Banker. Bankers, of course, are those people who make money off other people’s money. Who is she going to make money off of and for whom?
It gets better. We’ve also an opportunity to vote for a new U.S. Senator. We have Marco Rubio (who obviously was bereft of maternal love or he would have been named “Mark”), who is our GQ, (excuse me, “GOP”) candidate. He was groomed to secure the feminine Republican vote (remember GWB’s photo posed in Navy flight gear used to titillate Republican female voters?). He espouses Limbaughesque dribble about cutting taxes, cutting government, cutting social security (oops, saving social security, until after elections), and saving America for the few, (oops, for the many, until after elections). We also have Mr. Meeks, who, despite his name, is bravely advocating whatever and whenever. He has no specific plans other than to oppose plans of Republicans (if ever they actually come up with plans). And, in the muddled middle, we have good ole’ Charlie. Charlie Crist gives us that Florida smile, framed by a Florida tan, and says what most of Florida wants to hear with as much clarity as we receive from our Rice Krispy’s each morning. Remember, it was Charlie who left the GOP in order to exercise sound judgment. (Maybe he has something there.)
One would think Jon Stewart’s Rally to Restore Sanity has merit, given the current morass of asses vying for our votes. Stay the course, Jon, and remember: it was Will Rogers who observed, “[i]t’s easy to be a humorist when you have the whole government working for you.”
Did you know, the word ‘idiot’ comes from the Greek word ‘idiotes’ which was used to denote those who did not vote? In order to avoid the stigma of being an idiot (original definition), I intend to vote. But, I am not going to be the idiot (current usage) who votes for anyone of the above – instead, I think I will write in a vote for Jimmy Buffett for Governor. That son-of-a-sailor has assured us that he is neither a “lawyer, a thief or a banker.” As for Senator, I will write in a vote for Leroy LNU. I don’t know who he is, and it is doubtful he will ever be found, if elected; and his absence from the halls of Congress will be noticed not.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Rick Scott
Rick Scott wants to be our Governor. I perused his website just to make sure that some of the news reports I’ve heard were accurate. Sure enough, Rick Scott wants to run the State of Florida like a business. And, that concerns me. First, businesses either make products to sell for a profit or provide services for profit. I don’t look to the state government to do either. The state has no ‘business’ making a profit off its citizens even if there was a way to do so. Moreover, a government renders a limited number of services without competition from anyone – or at least, it should. So, I’m not much convinced that his plan to run the state government as a business is a very good one. A government should be run as a government fully accountable to the electorate.
Rick Scott also wants us to assume that he became a more astute businessman, and therefore a better gubernatorial candidate, because he was ousted as CEO from Columbia/HCA following the $1.7 billion fraud claim settlement. I’ve got to wonder exactly what lessons he learned as set forth in his website claim. He obviously didn’t learn how not to get caught and it’s unlikely that he learned honesty out of the affair. Whether he knew of the fraud or not doesn’t qualify him, in my mind, as a good gubernatorial candidate. If he knew, he is a common thief – if he didn’t know of the frauds, he’s not a very good CEO.
News pundits claim that Rick Scott has spent over $15 million of his own money to get the job as the Governor of this State. That job pays only about $140,000 a year. I have to wonder about the business acumen of someone who spends $15 million out of his own pocket to obtain a 4 year job that will gross only about $520,000. I’ve been in business for myself for some time and, to me, the figures just don’t add up unless, of course, he has plans of continuing larceny.
Rick Scott also wants us to assume that he became a more astute businessman, and therefore a better gubernatorial candidate, because he was ousted as CEO from Columbia/HCA following the $1.7 billion fraud claim settlement. I’ve got to wonder exactly what lessons he learned as set forth in his website claim. He obviously didn’t learn how not to get caught and it’s unlikely that he learned honesty out of the affair. Whether he knew of the fraud or not doesn’t qualify him, in my mind, as a good gubernatorial candidate. If he knew, he is a common thief – if he didn’t know of the frauds, he’s not a very good CEO.
News pundits claim that Rick Scott has spent over $15 million of his own money to get the job as the Governor of this State. That job pays only about $140,000 a year. I have to wonder about the business acumen of someone who spends $15 million out of his own pocket to obtain a 4 year job that will gross only about $520,000. I’ve been in business for myself for some time and, to me, the figures just don’t add up unless, of course, he has plans of continuing larceny.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Overloaded Vessel
By Ronald E. Hignight
There is nothing more egregious and dangerous than a Captain who overloads his vessel placing the vessel, himself and his passengers in peril. The BP oil disaster brings into focus how human beings have overloaded our vessel – the earth – and are placing our vessel in peril.
We are, in our haste to increase petroleum production, taking short cuts producing such disasters daily. The BP disaster may pass, as all such disasters tend to do but, what will we learn from the disaster?
The vast majority of our scientists have warned that human beings are responsible for the pending Climate Change yet we listen, instead, to the politicians and entrepreneurs debunk the warning and drill on.
We have also been warned by various national and international agencies that we have passed Peak Oil production point and that the earth’s available oil is being consumed exponentially and without recovery, at the current rate of 9% per year. By 2020, there may be no more recoverable oil.
Our Oceans are in decline experiencing a collapse of their ecosystems long before the BP Oil Spill disaster. In 2004, the Oceans had lost 20% of their historical coral reefs. Another 40% of the reefs, the building blocks of our fisheries, will be lost before the end of this decade.
Our earth has lost 50% of its Forests, the consumption of which, accounts for over 25% of the Greenhouse effects inducing Climate Change. Because of Climate Change, we are losing arable lands and producing a potential Food Crisis.
Lastly, we are simply Over Populated. There are close to 7 Billion people on this overloaded earth where a scant 50 years ago, there were only 3 Billion people.
A Captain has an opportunity, before leaving port, to decide whether his vessel is safe or overloaded and in danger of capsizing. Climate Change, Peak Oil, Oceans in Decline, Deforestation, Food Crisis and Over Population has together, if not individually, overloaded our vessel and it is time for the Captain to make sound decisions – not convenient and expedient decisions.
There is nothing more egregious and dangerous than a Captain who overloads his vessel placing the vessel, himself and his passengers in peril. The BP oil disaster brings into focus how human beings have overloaded our vessel – the earth – and are placing our vessel in peril.
We are, in our haste to increase petroleum production, taking short cuts producing such disasters daily. The BP disaster may pass, as all such disasters tend to do but, what will we learn from the disaster?
The vast majority of our scientists have warned that human beings are responsible for the pending Climate Change yet we listen, instead, to the politicians and entrepreneurs debunk the warning and drill on.
We have also been warned by various national and international agencies that we have passed Peak Oil production point and that the earth’s available oil is being consumed exponentially and without recovery, at the current rate of 9% per year. By 2020, there may be no more recoverable oil.
Our Oceans are in decline experiencing a collapse of their ecosystems long before the BP Oil Spill disaster. In 2004, the Oceans had lost 20% of their historical coral reefs. Another 40% of the reefs, the building blocks of our fisheries, will be lost before the end of this decade.
Our earth has lost 50% of its Forests, the consumption of which, accounts for over 25% of the Greenhouse effects inducing Climate Change. Because of Climate Change, we are losing arable lands and producing a potential Food Crisis.
Lastly, we are simply Over Populated. There are close to 7 Billion people on this overloaded earth where a scant 50 years ago, there were only 3 Billion people.
A Captain has an opportunity, before leaving port, to decide whether his vessel is safe or overloaded and in danger of capsizing. Climate Change, Peak Oil, Oceans in Decline, Deforestation, Food Crisis and Over Population has together, if not individually, overloaded our vessel and it is time for the Captain to make sound decisions – not convenient and expedient decisions.
Monday, March 1, 2010
There Ought to be a Law
By Ronald E. Hignight
There ought to be a law. Have you tried dealing with an auto insurance company lately regarding a loss? They expeditiously take information, even over the internet, and dispatch an adjuster within 24 hours. A fellow shows up all smiles, snaps a few photos on his handy cell phone then leaves in a rush to turn in his report.
The next day, you receive a nice warm phone call from the claims representative, gushing with concern about your loss. Then they drop the bomb – an offer to settle all claims for about half the value of your auto. No rental is offered but they will send a tow truck. You have the responsibility of signing the title and sending it to them. Once they have confirmed that the auto is at the salvage yard and have received the title, they will forward the check for your auto.
When you try to talk with them about how they determined the value of the vehicle they say imperiously that the value is based on ‘comparables.’ Where such comparables come from is somewhat of a mystery but I was informed that they ranged out some 200 miles to try to find the exact vehicle somewhere on the market. I suspect that the vehicles they found, if any actually exist, are lodged at a salvage yard somewhere.
If you object to the value, all that really happens is that you are passed from one claim representative to another over a period of several days each promising that they will re-research the comparables. Each successive call renders the same value.
It is fruitless to suggest that you will engage an attorney even though such is an alternative. It is an alternative only if you have some form of transportation to get you by for the next nine months to a year. What is needed is a quick and inexpensive forum to turn to such as mediation. But, it takes two to agree to mediation and insurance companies are uninterested. So, give us a law that compels auto insurance companies to go to mediation if there is a disagreement on a claim.
There ought to be a law. Have you tried dealing with an auto insurance company lately regarding a loss? They expeditiously take information, even over the internet, and dispatch an adjuster within 24 hours. A fellow shows up all smiles, snaps a few photos on his handy cell phone then leaves in a rush to turn in his report.
The next day, you receive a nice warm phone call from the claims representative, gushing with concern about your loss. Then they drop the bomb – an offer to settle all claims for about half the value of your auto. No rental is offered but they will send a tow truck. You have the responsibility of signing the title and sending it to them. Once they have confirmed that the auto is at the salvage yard and have received the title, they will forward the check for your auto.
When you try to talk with them about how they determined the value of the vehicle they say imperiously that the value is based on ‘comparables.’ Where such comparables come from is somewhat of a mystery but I was informed that they ranged out some 200 miles to try to find the exact vehicle somewhere on the market. I suspect that the vehicles they found, if any actually exist, are lodged at a salvage yard somewhere.
If you object to the value, all that really happens is that you are passed from one claim representative to another over a period of several days each promising that they will re-research the comparables. Each successive call renders the same value.
It is fruitless to suggest that you will engage an attorney even though such is an alternative. It is an alternative only if you have some form of transportation to get you by for the next nine months to a year. What is needed is a quick and inexpensive forum to turn to such as mediation. But, it takes two to agree to mediation and insurance companies are uninterested. So, give us a law that compels auto insurance companies to go to mediation if there is a disagreement on a claim.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Calf Roped
By Ronald E. Hignight
OK! Enough already! All you wing nuts meeting at CPAC listen up! We are throwing in the towel. Hear us? You want smaller government and we are ready to deal! How small do you want this new government? Hell, let’s get with it and cut the whole shebang down by 2/3rds, what do you say? The lines may get a little long at Social Security but, what the hell, those lines are just full of old farts anyway. We will end up with a much thinner ‘green line’ (I’m not talking about ecology either, mind you; I’m talking military green), but, what the hell, we will just aim a whole load of missiles at everyone that ain’t American – that should protect us. We can turn 2/3rds of the military personnel back to work in our mighty industrial complex, right?
And, as I understand it, you don’t want to reform a damned thing, right? OK! Status quo it is. In fact, we will help you sell the idea that the current economic downturn is actually a myth started by elitist left wing liberals hell bent on destroying the U.S.! They are the ones that mysteriously caused the auto industry decline, wrecked our Wall Street, and persuaded bankers to engage in something almost like racketeering, right?
We need Dick Cheney! We want either Michele Bachman or Sarah Palin as his running mate. They both have outstanding credentials for running the most powerful nation on earth! And that could come into play as Cheney does have a small ailing heart, right? Who cares as long as he is strongly backed with ‘stick-to-it’ character. Or maybe, we might like to see Gov. Pawlenty because, in a pinch, he will just let God take over and run things. Now, I like the sound of that and am not really too curious just which God that is as long as it’s a God. And, of course, that couldn’t be the money God, right?
Let’s get it on. No more gaffing. Make Fox news the ministry of propaganda good information. Git’er done!
OK! Enough already! All you wing nuts meeting at CPAC listen up! We are throwing in the towel. Hear us? You want smaller government and we are ready to deal! How small do you want this new government? Hell, let’s get with it and cut the whole shebang down by 2/3rds, what do you say? The lines may get a little long at Social Security but, what the hell, those lines are just full of old farts anyway. We will end up with a much thinner ‘green line’ (I’m not talking about ecology either, mind you; I’m talking military green), but, what the hell, we will just aim a whole load of missiles at everyone that ain’t American – that should protect us. We can turn 2/3rds of the military personnel back to work in our mighty industrial complex, right?
And, as I understand it, you don’t want to reform a damned thing, right? OK! Status quo it is. In fact, we will help you sell the idea that the current economic downturn is actually a myth started by elitist left wing liberals hell bent on destroying the U.S.! They are the ones that mysteriously caused the auto industry decline, wrecked our Wall Street, and persuaded bankers to engage in something almost like racketeering, right?
We need Dick Cheney! We want either Michele Bachman or Sarah Palin as his running mate. They both have outstanding credentials for running the most powerful nation on earth! And that could come into play as Cheney does have a small ailing heart, right? Who cares as long as he is strongly backed with ‘stick-to-it’ character. Or maybe, we might like to see Gov. Pawlenty because, in a pinch, he will just let God take over and run things. Now, I like the sound of that and am not really too curious just which God that is as long as it’s a God. And, of course, that couldn’t be the money God, right?
Let’s get it on. No more gaffing. Make Fox news the ministry of propaganda good information. Git’er done!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
No, Chicken Little, The Sky is Not Falling
By Ronald E. Hignight
It all started with a general alarm, sounded by the people of pundits, that the American Dream was falling from the sky when the Supreme Court decision was rendered holding that corporations possessed a constitutional right of free speech akin to that of individuals. Next came Obama, who heaped a little scorn upon the Justices who made that constitutional determination (it’s their job to do so) based upon a poorly written political campaign law. It’s now being suggested that we prepare for our worst nightmare – a country run by “greedy rich people (who run corporations) participating in politics only to protect their individual interests.”
I would ask first – so, what is new? This country has always, except for brief unsuccessful periods of popularism, been run by the “greedy rich people participating in politics only to protect their individual interests.” So, what is new?
The ‘sky is falling’ mantra does not set well with me. I have a good public education; I can think for myself and I don’t seize upon any and every thing let by the press. When something of import comes up, I take the time to discern both sides of an issue and make up my own decision as to what I will support or not support. And, as for Madison Avenue, the joke is on them. I drink Budweiser for the taste, not for the company’s stylish and funny advertising.
It seems when others are projecting, that I will make poor voting decisions based upon the slick Madison Ave. presentations that will be offered by corporations, they demean me. It seems to me when they think so little of my ability to discern where a future salon’s interest lies; they think me stupid and in need of protection. Those who project the falling sky do not seem to think too much of my intelligence. Excuse me; I don’t need to be protected from information. Indeed, I don’t need to be protected from forecasts of doom; for, in fact, the sky is not falling, Chicken Littles.
It all started with a general alarm, sounded by the people of pundits, that the American Dream was falling from the sky when the Supreme Court decision was rendered holding that corporations possessed a constitutional right of free speech akin to that of individuals. Next came Obama, who heaped a little scorn upon the Justices who made that constitutional determination (it’s their job to do so) based upon a poorly written political campaign law. It’s now being suggested that we prepare for our worst nightmare – a country run by “greedy rich people (who run corporations) participating in politics only to protect their individual interests.”
I would ask first – so, what is new? This country has always, except for brief unsuccessful periods of popularism, been run by the “greedy rich people participating in politics only to protect their individual interests.” So, what is new?
The ‘sky is falling’ mantra does not set well with me. I have a good public education; I can think for myself and I don’t seize upon any and every thing let by the press. When something of import comes up, I take the time to discern both sides of an issue and make up my own decision as to what I will support or not support. And, as for Madison Avenue, the joke is on them. I drink Budweiser for the taste, not for the company’s stylish and funny advertising.
It seems when others are projecting, that I will make poor voting decisions based upon the slick Madison Ave. presentations that will be offered by corporations, they demean me. It seems to me when they think so little of my ability to discern where a future salon’s interest lies; they think me stupid and in need of protection. Those who project the falling sky do not seem to think too much of my intelligence. Excuse me; I don’t need to be protected from information. Indeed, I don’t need to be protected from forecasts of doom; for, in fact, the sky is not falling, Chicken Littles.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Demise of Space Exploration
By Ronald E. Hignight
It was recently disclosed that, by way of Presidential Advisory Policy, a decision has been reached to set aside NASA’s Constellation program which had set a goal, among other things, to work towards establishing a manned lunar station. The program has been set aside in favor of a “Flexible Path” strategy calling for the development of technologies but not setting any particular goal or destination.
Flexible Path strategy may help NASA to become an ‘engine of innovation’, as urged by its new Administrator Charles Bolden; but, something has been lost. I do not abide with the former Administrator Michael Griffin’s statement that it is a ‘stupid strategy’ which is neither productive nor efficient; but, I do lament the loss of what space exploration seems to be all about – and that is, in a word, wonder.
I have always deemed myself lucky to have been born in a time when space travel came into being. I watched with utter fascination, the launch of Sputnik, America’s un-manned and manned flights and as our heroes flew the dark heavens ultimately visiting the Moon. I watched with pride as astronauts returned to Earth after meaningful and productive excursions in the Shuttles and was bedazzled by the new things uncovered by the space station and Hubble.
The ‘giant leap for mankind’ is as much a part of my psyche as any other incident of American citizenship. Exploration of space is, in my mind, clean; we no longer speak in terms of conquering space. Space exploration does not destroy while achieving its goals. Space travel and knowledge of the universe is something that everyone can take pride in achieving. It is always, and forever shall be, about wonder.
Without some firm goal or destination, I find it hard to find that feeling of wonderment. I know the ‘flexible path’ is expedient and that space exploration is terribly difficult to justify as against the domestic needs in our present economy. I do not doubt the need for change; but, I will lament the passing of the wonder spawned by our goal driven exploration of space.
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